Oprah Winfrey made a surprise appearance at the Democratic National Convention. She took the stage on Wednesday and had strong words for former President Trump.
“We know all the old tricks and tropes,” Oprah said, “designed to distract us from what actually matters.” She emphasized that we are beyond “ridiculous tweets and lies.” In these complicated times, she called for “adult conversation” because civilized debate is vital.
Oprah didn’t hold back, targeting Trump directly. She mentioned a candidate claiming that one vote could be the last. “Well, you know what? I’m proud to vote again and again because I’m an American,” she declared. Voting, she said, is what makes America great.
She also took a jab at Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance. Vance had faced criticism for his comments about “childless cat ladies.” Oprah responded, “When a house is on fire, we don’t ask about the homeowners’ race or religion.” She added that even if it’s a “childless cat lady,” they still save the cat because that’s what Americans do.
The Trump campaign responded quickly. They posted a letter from 2000 where Oprah suggested Trump would make a good president. “Too bad we’re not running for office,” Oprah had written, suggesting they’d make a good team.
In a 2023 interview, Oprah acknowledged she might have thought that 23 years ago. But she told the crowd in Chicago, “Values and character matter.”
“Most of all,” she said, “decency and respect are on the ballot in 2024.” Common sense, she concluded, should prevail over loyalty to any individual.